I love looking at the early stages of a a creative work I've experienced in its finalized form. You get a glimpse of what-almost-was, what-could-have-been, and sometimes the thank-god-that-didn't-happen.

Bulbapedia has a fascinating page on prototype Pokemon and prototype trainers, as well as some Pokemon that just plain never made it into a Pokemon game. (Yet?)

Kurusu (left) and Honoguma (right) kind of look like Pikachu, in a different element type.

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This is an early version of Gengar. It's not as cool as the actual Gengar that went into the game!

Girafarig without a butt is strangely cute.

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An earlier form of Latias and Blaziken actually mashed both of these Pokemon together. I can dig it.

D'aaaaw look at this early drawing of Charizaaaard.

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Here is a female trainer who never got into the games. What was she meant to be? NPC? Protagonist? The world may never know.